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Indigenous Languages

Featured Books

The following titles from the First Nations Languages Series (UBC Press) can be found at X̱wi7x̱wa Library.

Click here to find other titles in the series at other UBC Libraries or online.

Search the UBC Catalogue

TIP: If you limit your search to Location: X̱wi7x̱wa Library, you do not need to use keywords like "Indigenous" because our collection centres Indigenous scholarship and perspectives. You will retrieve fewer results, which means you may exclude some relevant materials, but it also means you will not have to sift through pages of results that have little to do with Indigeneity.

Finding Materials in the UBC Catalogue

Try these basic strategies to begin your research in the UBC Library Catalogue.

Keyword Searches

Combine keywords relating to the concept of Indigenous identity AND keywords about language. For example:

  • "First Nations"
  • Indigenous
  • Aboriginal
  • Indian
  • Native
  • Inuit
AND
  • Language?
  • "Language reclamation"
  • "Language revitalization"
  • "Language revival"
  • "Heritage languages"
  • "Community languages"
  • "Under-described languages"
  • "Endangered languages"
  • "Language shift"

Helpful Hints for Keyword Searches

  • Use quotation marks to search for a phrase.
    Example: "First Nations"
  • Use a question mark to truncate a term to search for words with the same stem.
    Example:     Linguist? retrieves Linguistical, Linguistics, Linguistic, Linguist, etc.

Try these basic strategies to begin your research in the UBC Library Catalogue.

Subject Headings

Subject headings are a tool designed to help researchers find similar materials. These are only some examples of the many subject headings that Xwi7xwa Library uses. Spend a few minutes exploring them when you find a book in the catalogue that supports your research.

Browse Catalogue > Subject begins with:

Try browsing subject headings beginning with the specific Indigenous language you are interested in. For example: 

TIP: Names of Indigenous languages often change over time and spellings may vary. You may need to conduct multiple searches using a variety of search terms to find information about a specific Indigenous language. 

Try these basic strategies to begin your research in the UBC Library Catalogue.

Browse Call Numbers

Xwi7xwa Library uses a unique Classification Scheme. 

See call numbers beginning with X for language materials. The X class is further divided according to language families and specific languages. For example: 

  • XB - Athapascan languages 
    • XBA - Dane-zaa
    • XBB - Carrier 
    • XBC - Tsilhqot'in

Come by Xwi7xwa to browse the shelves!